Bill 212 Charter Challenge

On Wednesday, Cycle Toronto – along with fellow applicants Eva Stanger-Ross and Narada Kiondo – had their day in court to pursue a Charter challenge against the Ford government’s plans to remove bike lanes. The challenge targets Section 195.6 of the Highway Traffic Act (originally in Bill 212), which requires the removal of bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge, and University. The applicants are represented by Andrew Lewis of Paliaire Roland and Bronwyn Roe of the non-profit Ecojustice, while Greenpeace, For Our Kids Toronto, and the Canadian Public Health Association appeared as intervenors. Both the main and overflow courtrooms were full for the occasion while Justice Paul Schabas presided over the session which focused on Section 7.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.

Cycle Toronto's "Rally for Justice" held the day before the April 16 Charter challenge

Your December 2024 #BikeTO Roundup

It’s hard to believe, but another year is almost over, and it’s been quite the rollercoaster with the Bill 212 fiasco and all. With two more weeks to go, a lot has popped up which warrants a roundup post of its own. This includes a couple of updates regarding Bill 212, the East Don Trail, the Ellesmere Complete Street project, and some upcoming group rides. Let’s dive in to see what December 2024 has to offer!

A banner ridiculing Doug Ford's war on bike lanes found over the Gardiner (via Martin Reis)

Mississauga’s Bloor Bike Lane Fight

While the City of Toronto’s latest bike plan called for extending the Bloor bike lanes west from Runnymede to Six Points (at Kipling) by 2024, Mississauga has their own Bloor bike lane fight through the Bloor Street Integrated Project. During the January 19, 2022 city council meeting, the City of Mississauga opted to hold a third community meeting on March 9, 2022 given opposition to the project; most notably from the Applewood Hills & Heights Residents’ Association and their petition which got 130 signatures. I heard of many arguments against bike lanes over the years of fighting for bike lanes on Bloor in Toronto, but none were as ridiculous as that about bike lanes violating charter rights brought up by Athinda Tagidou of the AHHRA during the city council meeting. An argument which made the top twelve weird things on Cracked.

Ridicule to the charter right argument was picked up by Cracked